Marc Bircham believes QPR can become an established Barclays Premier League team

If we can do it (stay up) with the backing that we have got with the owners and the finances we can gradually turn round and evolve into a Premier League club

Ex QPR midfielder Marc Bircham

Despite sitting in the drop zone the former QPR midfielder says not facing clubs fighting for survival could actually prove beneficial to QPR's survival hopes.

Mark Hughes' side currently sit 18th in the table but their run-in sees them face six of the current top 10 in their final eight games.

The 33-year-old ex-Canada international said: "We have got Arsenal at home and then Man U away and no-one is giving us a chance so the pressure is off us."

The West London side proved this with a memorable 3-2 win at home over Liverpool but a 3-1 reverse at Sunderland proves there is plenty of work still to do.

As a 30 year fan of the club, Bircham hopes QPR can follow in the footsteps of Stoke and Bolton who have established themselves in the league.

"If we can do it (stay up) with the backing that we have got with the owners and the finances we can gradually turn round and evolve into a Premier League club and hopefully a top-half (club) and maybe a European Premier League club," he added.